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What's the Difference Between Interested and Absorbed? (And Why It Matters)

Writer's picture: Heather LyonHeather Lyon

Hello,


In my work on engagement, I explore the four levels of engagement—non-compliant, compliant, interested, and absorbed. The last two levels, interest and absorption, are especially important because they are the two that reflect true engagement.



The way to move someone along the Engagement Continuum is determined by (a) somone's relationship to the task and (b) their relationship to the consequence (positive or negative) for doing the task and/or to the person assigning the task. This is shown in the Engagement Matrix below.

(If you’re interested in learning more about non-compliance, check out this post and if you’re interested in learning more about compliance, read this.)
(If you’re interested in learning more about non-compliance, check out this post and if you’re interested in learning more about compliance, read this.)

Here, I’m focusing on the right side of the Engagement Matrix: interested and absorbed. The highest level of engagement is absorption–being so engrossed in a task that time passes by differently. This happens not when things are easy (because easy tasks are boring, not engaging), but when tasks are appropriately challenging. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s calls this state “flow.” No matter what you call it, it’s a great feeling.


The second highest level, interested, does not feel this way. Interested gets us to a point whereby we are more than just willing to do the work, we want to do the work. At least for the moment. However, when the time comes for us to stop, we’re ready to stop. Interest is characterized by both temporary enjoyment and extrinsic motivation. 


Think of it like this:

Interested

Absorbed

When you’re interested in a task, you want to do it. This state is characterized by temporary enjoyment and is often driven by extrinsic factors—like earning a paycheck. When you’re interested, you engage because the task is both satisfying and has the potential to provide financial reward. 

Absorption goes a step further. When you’re absorbed, you become so engrossed in an activity that time seems to vanish. This state of “flow” (a term coined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) occurs when a task is perfectly challenging and completely captivating. While this deep engagement is immensely fulfilling on an intrinsic level, it isn’t always the work that contributes directly to your income.


Interested and absorbed are two levels of engagement, but there can be at least three ways that each of these states of engagement manifests. 


Interested Manifestations

Absorbed Manifestations

  • Willing Participants: There should be equal billing here of willing and participant. Interested people will do at least the minimum because they are willing. These are people who will volunteer and be active.

  • Professionals: Rather than, “I would pay to do this!” which is what an absorbed person would say regarding a task, an interested person would say, “I would do this for pay!”

  • Strategists: Those are those who do the task because they are very attracted to the outcome of the task. Unlike professionals who liked what they were doing and found a way to get paid to do it, strategists liked the payment and found a way to do the task.

  • Novice: We are just “trying on” activities in which we are smitten to see if we really like them. In the beginning of this endeavor, we will think a lot about this activity. Over time, we may realize it wasn’t a good fit and abandon this pursuit. 

  • Enthusiast: When we are willing to make a long-term commitment to a task, it shifts from being to something we do, to being our identity–I am not someone who goes running, I am a runner.

  • Addict: When the things we do for fun become things we can’t stop doing even if we want to, we have lost control. Addiction is marked by neglection to our responsibilities and others and this is an unhealthy form of absorption.


Here’s an example of what absorption looks like in action. I’ve been crocheting since my teens, creating hats, scarves, blankets, and more. Recently, I embarked on an ambitious project—a temperature blanket for 2024 where each row represents one day of the year and is colored based on the high temperature of that day. To pull this off, I:


  • Researched daily temperature data

  • Selected colors and purchased the appropriate yarn

  • Created a spreadsheet to map out the pattern

  • Spent hours of my free time working on the blanket


I should also tell you that it hasn’t been easy. 


This crocheting project is a prime example of absorption. I lose track of time because I’m completely engrossed in the creative process. Yet, while this level of engagement is immensely rewarding on a personal level, it isn’t directly linked to earning money.

In truth, I worked on it from late January 2024-early March 2024 and then set it aside until December. When I got back to it, I started with a vengeance. My absorption was piqued and I felt eager to finish it. As I was going, I could see that I wasn’t doing a great job of keeping the edges straight, but I pushed ahead. When I got to September 30th, I realized I should probably try to fix the edges, but it was too late. The wonkiness was too much to compensate for, so even though I had less than 25% to complete, I literally started over again. This happened in early January. As I’m writing this on January 31st, I am already up to July 31st. Why? Because I am absorbed. When I crochet, time flies and there is never enough of it. I think, “Oh, I’ll just do one more row,” and next thing I know, I’m five rows in and I should have gone to bed an hour ago. THIS is absorption.

NOTE: The afghan on the left was my FIRST attempt and what you see is what remains (I pulled out about half of it). Notice how the bottom is significantly wider than the top. On the right is the SECOND afghan with January-July completed. It's not perfect, but it's significantly better.
NOTE: The afghan on the left was my FIRST attempt and what you see is what remains (I pulled out about half of it). Notice how the bottom is significantly wider than the top. On the right is the SECOND afghan with January-July completed. It's not perfect, but it's significantly better.

But, what is also true about absorption is that no one should pay me to make them an afghan. Why? It would be good, but it’s not going to be perfect. Even with the one I started over, there are still some parts that are wonky. Moreover, if I were making it for someone to buy, I would feel levels of concern and pressure about my work that I do not feel knowing the afghan is for me. THIS is also absorption. My motivation is intrinsic and doing work for money makes the motivation extrinsic. Remember, motivation is why we do what we do and engagement is how we feel about what we’re doing. Absorbed people are highly motivated intrinsically and feel good about what they’re doing even though what they’re doing isn’t easy. Interested people are motivated extrinsically (think: paycheck) and feel good about the core of what they’re doing even though they may find aspects of their work to be uninspiring.


Our culture sensationalizes the highest level of anything as being “the best.” In this case, that would mean absorption is the best state of being. I will be the first to say how important absorption is to living a full life. Everyone should have connections with activities that we get to taste-test during the novice phase. When doing so, only some of the activities will cross over to an enthusiast level. Here’s the tricky thing about being at this level of engagement–no one, and I mean no one, is or could be at the absorption level for everything they do every day. Just through the sheer nature of humanity, we all have certain tasks we love to do and others we hate to do. While there are many tasks that have high levels of enjoyment for most people, there are still outliers who may not find the popular thing fun. 


The key is finding tasks that not only captivate you but also have the potential for financial reward. Ideally, you want to focus your professional energy on work that is enjoyable enough to bring satisfaction and that also contributes to your livelihood. Whether you’re pursuing a full-time career or a side project, blending interest (which motivates you to do great work for pay) with occasional absorption (which nurtures your creative soul) can lead to a more balanced, fulfilling life. This may be controversial to say, but you do not have to find a way to make money doing the things that you do for fun. Fun things and money-making endeavors do not have to be synonymous.


While absorption is often idealized, it’s crucial to remember that interest plays a vital role. It's the engine that drives our professional lives, allowing us to contribute meaningfully and earn a living. It's the foundation upon which we build our careers and achieve our goals. Absorption, on the other hand, is the spark that ignites our passions, fuels our creativity, and reminds us of the sheer joy of being human. Both are essential ingredients for a well-rounded life. Just as my crocheting project allows me to tap into a state of flow, so too should we all have avenues for exploring our passions, even if they don't directly translate into monetary gain. The key is to recognize the value of both, to cultivate both, and to find a way to integrate them into a life that is both productive and profoundly meaningful.


So, I challenge you: take a moment to reflect on your own life and identify where you experience interest and where you experience absorption. Are you investing your energy wisely? Are you nurturing your passions? Are you finding that balance between what pays the bills and what feeds your soul? It's time to get engaged—truly engaged—with your work, your hobbies, and your life.


~Heather


P.S. My math below was inspired by a reel I saw on IG. I can't find it again, but this is pretty close.


So my Catch of the Week is the price we pay to be absorbed...I say it's worth every penny!


To break down for you the costs of hobbies and why we often couldn't get paid to do them, here is a great example using the afghan I'm making:

  • Yarn cost: 10 colors but 15 skeins=$4.50 x 15=$67.50

  • I can do 1 month in about 3.5 hours=3.5 hours x 12 months=42 hours

  • I will add a border that will take an additional 5 hours

  • NYS Minimum wage=$16.50 x 47 hours=$775.50

Remember though, I restarted after completing 75% of the first one so add on that addtional cost of time (I unraveled it to save the cost of buying new yarn).


  • The first one cost me $519.75

  • The second one will cost me $775.50


The total cost is $1295.25 and that's just if I get paid minimum wage for my work! What price do you pay to do the tasks that absorb you?


P.P.S. Please remember to...


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